Expats Who Work: From the Perspective of a Happily Retired Educator
I finally got it right. The third time I retired my energy for the youth of America was exhausted. My time had come. The realization came five years ago at a Sunday night preseason workout when the seniors who should have been leaders came to me complaining about the younger players. The next morning I submitted my resignation and walked away. Never have I looked back. Fond memories or regrets arise occasionally, but I fully embrace the final stages of life. I’m loving it.
This blog is a salute to those expats who have found a niche within the society of the Haute Velley and applied their knowledge, skills and passion in filling that void. Quillan and surrounding villages will thrive or wither on the quality of the local workers and artisans. However, many Expats utilize their abilities to enhance the life of all of us who live in the Valley. These are but a few.
Many skilled in carpentry have settled here and found an avenue to make money while serving the demands of a diverse populace. Jay, Jim, Justin, Steve, Andy, Ian, Enzo, Bryan, Derrick and Chris are a few with whom I am familiar. I know I have left out a number of worthy examples; for that I apologize. Projects large and small keep them busy. Living in a village with homes hundreds of years old leads to interesting challenges. For a project that requires building from the ground up most defer to the French contractors.
The general consensus is that one of the greatest challenges is balancing several small remodeling jobs at once. Keeping the owners up to date on anticipated progress and meeting deadlines is difficult. I asked several of the craftsmen about the challenges and the rewards of making an old house new again. One said, “Finding materials locally is difficult and travelling to Perpignan or Carcassonne screws up schedules.” Another remarked, “Working in stone is really tough, but the results can be beautiful. It’s just so tough trying to guess how long a job will take.” Whatever the challenges involved, the results help make old French houses functional and more pleasant.
Recently a new specialty tea room opened under creative ownership of Misha Wetherill. Several mornings a week she serves a variety of delicacies baked lovingly in her kitchen at Le Petit Monde. For lunches and special events in the Place de le Republic she often offers sandwiches or soups, most are vegetarian. Her husband Bryan serves as her public relations man and advertising agent. In connection with the tea room is a lovely B&B which gets rave reviews on TripAdviser. Check it out on Facebook and find out what’s on the menu.
Mischa saw an eyesore within the Petit Monde and with the help of husband Bryan designed and executed a dream incorporating a penchant for collecting “stuff” into something the village did not have, a tea room. “It was to be a meeting place for mostly women because the bars cater mostly to men. I’ve been surprised with the response by male customers.” Her baking skills tie in beautifully with the B&B they run and her carrot cake has been popular, especially with French customers. “We recently had three generations in for a birthday celebration.” Obviously, the Petit Monde is filling a void.
From previous blogs you are aware that my attraction to creatively brewed beer is strong. Living in Michigan I was spoiled. Three local brew pubs served our desires and a number of brewers (Bell’s, Founders and Shorts are the best known) have gone regional and national. The University (Central Michigan) had a curriculum which taught brewing and a local tavern raised hops in its garden. The arrival in Quillan of The Flying Pig (Cochon Volant) filled a void. Stephen Lough is limited by space in the Brasserie. However, the atmosphere is charming and hours of operation have been extended. He now has expanded to offer his beers in supermarkets and at local market days. My oldest son, a home brewer in Omaha, Nebraska follows the Flying Pig on Facebook too. It’s a generational thing with the Carbee’s.
Stephen has turned a leisure activity into an enterprise and has done it thousands of miles away from his home turf. His storefront allows for open air drinking which spills out onto the sidewalk and beyond on summer evenings when bands play in the square. You can get a beer at any bar, but not the award winning specialties Steve offers and his selection of wines is excellent. A limited menu is offered to accompany your choice of brew. His Porter is my slam dunk favorite.
A number of expats operate Bed and Breakfasts in Quillan and the surrounding area. Visitors are here year round but the influx intensifies during the summer months when outdoor sports and festivals make the village buzz with activity. When Julie and I arrived three years ago we stayed with Steve and Lou Wood at La Vue. They are great hosts. Steve runs a service for bicyclists, but they host an interesting mix of patrons. Recently they welcomed a Russian traveler. Lou irons the sheets and cooks (very well I might emphasize) when guests prefer not to venture out.
Several years ago they took a ten day tour of the French Pyrenees looking for a future home. Like most of us they had the ‘French dream’. They visited Quillan, were hooked on its beauty and activity, returned to England, and put their house on the market. One of the challenges they encountered is faced by many of the B&B owners-transforming a former family home to accommodate guests. They converted a one bathroom house into five en suite units, all while Steve commuted to his job in England. “Now the most difficult thing about the business is adjusting a social life to the uncertain arrival times of customers.” Even though it keeps them busy, they have more time to spend together and with friends than when they both worked jobs.
Several other friends are involved in operating their own B&B, but we have never stayed. Having seen rooms in each home, I would give them positive marks.
One of the more unusual jobs is that of teaching English to Chinese youth online. Paulita Kincer serves nearly thirty students who regularly attend half hour sessions via the internet. Parents are usually in attendance; they put pressure on the kids to be fluent hoping to gain advantages in future job markets in China. English names are chosen by each because their Chinese names are difficult to pronounce. Among the most unusual are Truck, Soup, Happy and Lucky (no Sneezy or Doc). Paulita has interesting stories recounting episodes both funny and frustrating. One five year old abruptly turned and mooned her. “Most of them are just nice children and fun work with. The positives far outweigh the negatives.”
Paulita’s background is in higher education; she taught at universities in Ohio for fifteen years. Presently she teaches classes in public speaking. The challenges vary but “the live lectures at three in the morning are demanding”. She spends hours grading written work and evaluating presentations. All this makes balancing work and an active social calendar a bit interesting. “I want to live in France. I have to adapt to achieve that goal.”
Nikki Holifield combines a passion for fashion (a little poetry to break any boredom you might be experiencing) with an opportunity to make money. She has a degree in law and worked in procurement for years, but has operated Adore Encore from her home in Campagne for three years selling second hand clothing. No junk here - only pre-worn classics. If you want junk browse the 3 euro pile at the Esperaza market. She opens by appointment but has special sales periodically. Recently she teamed with Le Pitit Monde, displaying garments and accessories. She executes this with the help of Lucille, a mannequin she acquired from a shop in Mirepoix. She also has a group of women who regularly contribute unwanted clothing sharing whatever profits result. They have adopted the name “the Adorables”.
Nikki surprised me with this statement. “Fashion is bad for the planet and manipulative of women.” Her explanation makes good sense - retail stores thrive on the concept that new is essential. She backs up her philosophy by using no paper or plastics. Her plan incorporates flexibility so that she can enjoy life in the Valley. Watch out guys; Nikki is planning to expand into men’s fashions.
Most of us are retirees and have no interest in reviving skills and dedicating effort and time. I personally refuse to give up my midmorning coffee, leisurely lunch and afternoon nap. Plus, little interest exists in Quillan for improving basketball skills. (If only I’d been a petanque coach.) I salute those expats who still enjoy facing daily challenges.